Our Lady s Catholic High School Determined Admissions Policy 2015/2016

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1 Our Lady s Catholic High School Determined Admissions Policy 2015/2016 Our Lady s is first and foremost a Catholic school. It follows from this that the ethos of our school should reflect the values proclaimed by Christ in the Gospels and recognise the unique value of each individual. Everyone at Our Lady s has the right to be treated with respect at all times. (from OLCHS Mission Statement) Reviewed - February 2014 Review date - February P a g e

2 Admissions to Our Lady s Catholic High School: The Governing body is the admissions authority. It is responsible for admissions within the requirements of the law and will admit children in the order of priority set out below. Our Lady s is a Catholic High School in which the Catholic faith and the teachings of the Catholic Church are essential aspects of school life and influence the school curriculum. The Governing body has set the planned admissions number for September 2015 at 180. The Local Authority and other parties required by law have been consulted on this. 1. Catholic looked after children and adopted children who were previously looked after 2. Catholic children living in a nominated parish and attending an associated primary school 3. Catholic children living in a nominated parish and attending other Catholic primary schools 4. Catholic children attending an associated primary school 5. Catholic children living in a nominated parish 6. Catholic children having a brother or sister already in attendance at the school in the September of the year of admission 7. Catholic children who attend other Catholic primary schools 8. Non-Catholic looked after children and adopted children who were previously looked after 9. Non-Catholic children having a brother or sister already in attendance at the school in the September of the year of admission 10. Non-Catholic children who attend an associated primary school 11. Other Catholic children 12. Children of other faiths who show written evidence of commitment to that faith 13. All other children Reasonable steps may be taken to verify that the above criteria are met. If the acceptance of all the children in a given criterion were to take the number of places offered to above the admission number, then places will be offered first to those pupils living nearest to the school by a straight line (radial) measure. The distance will be measured using the Lancashire County Council s geographical information system, the measurement being taken from the central point of the property to the central point of the school until the admission number is reached. In the event of a tied distance measurement between address points the Local Authority's system of a random draw will determine which address(es) receive the offer(s). A baptismal or first holy communion certificate will be requested as evidence of belonging to the Catholic faith. Siblings Sibling refers to full brothers or sisters, half brothers or sisters, adopted brothers or sisters, or the child of the parent/carer s partner where the child for whom the place is sought is living in the same family unit at the same address as that sibling. Stepchildren or foster children who live at the same address are also classed as siblings Address of Pupil The address used on the school s admission form must be the current one at the time of application. If the address changes subsequently, the parents should notify the school. In some cases, for example, where shared parental living arrangements are in place, a child s address may be difficult to determine. In these circumstances, the address used for child benefit purposes, ie, the address of the parent claiming the child benefit, will be used. 2 P a g e

3 If you are moving house and applying for the school and it is not oversubscribed, using your new address may not be a problem. In the event of oversubscription it may be possible to consider your application on the basis of an address you are intending to move to. You must be resident at a specific address and not just have a stated intention to move to an area. You must provide evidence that you have exchanged contracts on a house or have an offer of a tenancy on a property in which you intend to live and which will be in place when your child would start at the school. This evidence must be submitted as soon as possible and no later than the Lancashire County Council s admissions deadline. Further evidence, eg utility bills, may also need to be submitted. The Governing Body may on occasion seek verification of addresses from individual applicants. Late Applications Late applications received up to the date of offer letters being issued will be considered individually by the Governors who will decide whether these can be slotted into the admissions process or whether they must be considered after all those applications which have been received by the stipulated deadline. Offer letters will be issued by the LA. In all instances however, it will be the Governors who determine whether there are sufficiently strong or exceptional reasons to accept late applications. Waiting List A waiting list for children who have not been offered a place will be kept and will be ranked according to the admissions/oversubscription criteria. Parents/carers are invited to contact the school if they wish to be informed of their child s position on the waiting list. The waiting list will be closed at the end of the autumn term. The Governors will be prepared to consider a place to any Catholic child who is transferring from another Catholic High School. Multiple Births Where there are twins wanting admission and there is only a single place left within the admission number, then the Governing Body will exercise as much flexibility as possible. If places for both twins or all triplets, etc cannot be offered, the family will be advised accordingly. This may also apply to siblings who are in the same year group. If only a single place can be offered then the Local Authority's system for a random draw will decide which pupil receives an offer. Non-routine admissions It sometimes happens that a child needs to change school other than at the normal time; such admissions are known as non-routine or in-year admissions. Parents wishing their child to attend this school should arrange to visit the school. They will be provided with an application form once they have a definite local address. If there is a place in the appropriate class, then the governors will arrange for the admission to take place. If there is no place, then the admissions committee will consider the application and information about how to appeal against the refusal will be provided. Appeals for children moving into the area will not be considered until there is evidence of a permanent address, e.g. exchange of contracts or tenancy agreement with rent book. Please note that you cannot re-appeal for a place at a school within the same school year unless there has been relevant, significant and material change in the family circumstances. Fraudulent Applications Where the Governing Body discovers that a child has been awarded a place as a result of an intentionally misleading application from a parent, for example, where a false address has been provided, then the Governing Body is required to withdraw the offer of a place. The application will then be considered afresh and a right of appeal offered if a place is refused. 3 P a g e

4 Parishes and Primary Schools: Our Lady s serves, in the first instance, the Catholic community living in the nominated parishes (set out below) or attending their associated primary schools: Hill Chapel Goosnargh Holy Family Ingol Our Lady & Saint Edwards Fulwood Sacred Heart & St Walburge Ashton Saint Andrew s Cottam Saint Anthony s Fulwood Saint Edmund Campion - Ashton Saint Mary s Fernyhalgh Saint Mary s Lea Town Saint Mary s, Newhouse Barton Saint Mary & Saint Michael s Garstang Saint Robert s Catforth Saint Thomas Claughton 4 P a g e

5 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION FORM OUR LADY S CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL. Saint Anthony s Drive, Fulwood, PRESTON, PR2 3SQ Tel: (01772) IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT ALL SECTIONS ARE COMPLETED AND THIS FORM RETURNED TO OUR LADY S CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL If you are applying for a place for your child in a Catholic School on faith grounds please complete this form in addition to the Local Authority form available online or issued by the Local Authority. This supplementary faith request form will assist the Governors of the school in deciding whether your child qualifies for a place. Failure to complete the form may affect where your child is placed within the oversubscription criteria. Surname: Forename: Middle Name(s): Chosen Name: Gender: M / F Date of Birth: / / PARENT / CARER / CONTACT INFORMATION: Full Name: Address: Tel No: Does the child live at this address? Yes / No Names of Brother(s) / Sister(s) still attending OLCHS in September of the coming school year. Name of present school: From: To: For Catholics: I confirm that the above child is a baptised Catholic and enclose proof of baptism eg copy of Baptismal certificate or letter from a priest confirming applicant s preparation for Catholic baptism Yes No Date and Place of Child s First Communion: Parish you live in: (Not necessarily the Church you attend) For pupils who are not Catholic but wish to have a faith based education in a Catholic school: please complete below to confirm that the applicant is a member of your faith community. Signed Print Name Address Telephone number Position held 5 P a g e